Newly restored frescoes at the Villa of Mysteries were on display at the ancient site of Pompeii, Italy, on Friday.

POMPEII, Italy — Italy unveiled the restored crown jewel of the ancient city of Pompeii on Friday, showing off a rare success story as it races to shore up the site marred by such mismanagement and neglect that it risked losing EU funding and its UNESCO World Heritage site listing.

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini cut the ribbon to open the restored Villa of Mysteries, a spectacular estate on the outskirts of Pompeii’s city centre that features some of the best-preserved frescoes of the site.